LAKE AREA TECH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Physical Therapist
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant / Financial Aid
Job Titles:
- Occupational Therapy Assistant / Adjunct / Lab Assistant
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education / Speech
Job Titles:
- Admissions Representative
Job Titles:
- Customer Service Representative / Bookstore & Food Service
Job Titles:
- General Education / Leadership in the Global Workforce
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education
Job Titles:
- Cosmetology Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Bookstore Assistant Manager
Job Titles:
- Admissions Representative
Job Titles:
- Talent & Campus Experience Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Finance
Bonita started working at Lake Area Technical College in July of 1997 as an Office Assistant. She is a graduate of Watertown High School and Lake Area Technical College Office Assistants program. She loves working with the students and instructors. Bonita enjoys spending time outdoors and playing beanbags. She lives in Watertown.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Physical Therapist
Job Titles:
- Ex - Officio Member
- Foundation Scholarship Coordinator
- Lake Area Technical College Foundation Scholarship Coordinator
- Scholarship Coordinator Ext. 292
Job Titles:
- Electronic Systems Technology / Robotics / EnergyDept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Coach
- Head
- Esports Head Coach
Brylee Smith joined Lake Area Tech as a Marketing Specialist in April of 2025, after graduating from LATC in 2023 with a degree in Graphic Design & Digital Communications. Since graduation, she has worked as a graphic designer and brand designer, building her skills and expertise in the field. In her free time, Brylee enjoys crocheting, reading, and baking during the winter months. In the summer, she loves jet skiing, kayaking, and road-tripping to concerts.
Job Titles:
- Ex - Officio Member
- President
- Vice President
- Lake Area Technical College As the Fifth Vice President
In November, 2023, Cam joined Lake Area Technical College as the fifth Vice President in the college's history. Prior to joining Lake Area Tech., Cam served the citizens of South Dakota as a law enforcement officer, retiring in June, 2023 after a storied 25-year career. Cam worked as a Deputy Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Special Agent, Supervisory Special Agent, and Assistant Director. Cam worked as a violent crime investigator specializing in sexual assault, child maltreatment, and homicide investigations. Cam investigated hundreds of sexual assault and child maltreatment incidents and dozens of death investigations/homicides. From 2021-2023 Cam oversaw all of the field operations of the DCI in South Dakota. In 2023, Cam requested and was granted assignment to create, build, and lead the DCI's newly formed Special Victims Unit, which comprises of three divisions: Anti-Human Trafficking, Missing & Murdered Indigenous Persons, and Child Maltreatment response.
Cam has taught many Criminal Justice courses at several colleges and Universities in South Dakota. Cam is a subject matter expert in the areas of sexual assault, homicide, domestic violence, and child maltreatment investigations. .
In 2014, Cam was appointed by the South Dakota legislature and subsequently re-appointed in 2015, by Governor Dennis Daugaard to Jolene's Law Task Force (JLTF) to study the effects of child sexual abuse in South Dakota and make recommendations to the South Dakota legislature. Through JLTF, Cam was one of the founders of the USD Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment. In 2017, Cam founded REACH a multidisciplinary team within a child advocacy center. Cam has testified on several occasions before the South Dakota Legislature on bills pertaining to victims of crime. Additionally, Cam is a frequently sought after speaker regarding advocating for victims, leadership, and resiliency. Cam has sat on many local, state, and national boards.
Cam has received over 24 commendations in his law enforcement career. In 2018, Cam was awarded the prestigious Center for the Prevention of Child Maltreatment Outstanding Service Award for his work in child maltreatment investigations, education, and response throughout South Dakota
Cam's education includes a Master of Arts degree from Keiser University in Criminal Justice; a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mount Marty University in Criminal Justice; and an Associate of Applied Science degree from Western Dakota Technical College in Law Enforcement Technology.
Cam is actively involved in community efforts such as Elite Alliance Volleyball Club, Fraternal Order of Police including Cops and Kids. During the high school year, you can hear Cam calling Watertown Arrow volleyball matches and basketball games on ArrowTV. Cam lives in Watertown with his wife Sarah and they have four children.
Job Titles:
- SD FFA Association Leadership & Program Manager
Job Titles:
- Financial Aid Assistant Director
Job Titles:
- Flight Instructor Pilot Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Computer Information Systems Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Law Enforcement Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Information Technology Director
Christi attended Lake Area Technical College for Computer Networking and graduated in 2003. After graduation, she worked for the Human Service Agency in the computer department. In 2008, she started working in the Information Technology department at Lake Area Technical College. She lives in South Shore and is married with two girls and a boy.
Job Titles:
- General Education / Computer
Job Titles:
- Technology / CAT ThinkBIG Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education
Job Titles:
- Dental Hygiene Program Director
Job Titles:
- Lead Admissions Representative
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education / Sociology
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education Instructor
Job Titles:
- Database Administrator
- Member of the Data Team
Don administers the Jenzabar student information system, JICS portal, and associated databases. He brings expertise as a Programmer/Analyst with experience at Blue Cross / Blue Shield and Berkley Information Systems. Don is a graduate of Lake Area Technical College with an A.A.S. degree in Computer Information Processing. He has been at Lake Area Technical College since 1997.
Job Titles:
- Information Technology Assistant Director
Job Titles:
- Student Success and Career Services Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant / Admissions & Marketing
Job Titles:
- Physical Therapist Assistant Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Agriculture Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- General Education / Computer
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Flight Instructor
Job Titles:
- General Education / Psychology
Job Titles:
- Business Partner Specialist / Health, Safety & Wellness Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Health Office Assistant / Testing Center
Job Titles:
- Human Services Technician Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Corporate Education / CASE IH
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Member of the Natural Resources Management Team
Jamie joined the Lake Area Technical College team in September 2019 as an Administrative Assistant for the Ag program. She is a graduate of Estelline High School and Lake Area Technical College with an Ag Business major. Jamie has worked at Pioneer DuPont during high school summers as a pollinator, summer crew member, and intern. She was also a Deuel County 4-H Extension summer assistant and intern. She lives on a farm north of Estelline where they raise beef cattle and she competes across the United States. Jamie was a member of the SDSU track team for one year. She also played sports in high school including volleyball, basketball, and track.
Job Titles:
- Welding Technology Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Human Services Technician
Job Titles:
- General Education / Chemistry
Job Titles:
- Librarian & Academic Support Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Grants & Compliance Manager
Job Titles:
- Simulation Center Manager
Job Titles:
- Diesel Technology Co - Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Ex - Officio Member
- Foundation Development & Alumni Coordinator Ext. 308
- Foundation Development and Alumni Coordinator
Job Titles:
- ABPT / Auto / BTT / Administrative Assistant
Lake Area Tech welcomed Jillian to the team in January 2023 as a counselor. She received her Master's degree in Clinical Social Work at St. Catherine University. Jillian's background includes roles as an oncology and dialysis social worker and working in individual clinical therapy. In her free time, she enjoys watching her kids play sports, cheering on the Vikings, playing golf, and spending time at the lake and on the boat. She lives near Lake Pelican.
Job Titles:
- Training & Development Manager
Lake Area Tech welcomed Jordan in August 2022 as a Leadership Instructor. In January 2024, he transitioned to his current role as the Training & Development Manager. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies in 2015 and his Master of Science degree in Human Sciences in 2017 from South Dakota State University. Jordan's experience includes being a Student Success Advisor for TRIO Student Support Services at SDSU. He lives in Brookings with his wife, son, daughter, and goldendoodle. In his free time, Jordan loves having a good cup of coffee and conversation with his wife, going golfing, watching sports, playing any sort of game, and making good food on the grill.
Job Titles:
- Academics Administrative Assistant / Corporate Education
Job Titles:
- Financial Aid Representative
Job Titles:
- Occupational Therapy Assistant Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- American Bank & Trust
Job Titles:
- State Director - SD Career & Technical Student Organizations
Job Titles:
- General Education / Economics
Job Titles:
- Medical Laboratory Technician
Job Titles:
- Medical Laboratory Technician Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Financial Services Co - Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Building Trades Technology Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education
Job Titles:
- General Education / Mathematics
Job Titles:
- General Education / Communications
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant / Diesel - AVM
Job Titles:
- Facilities Maintenance Technician
Job Titles:
- Technology Lab Instructor
Job Titles:
- Law Enforcement Accreditation Manager
Job Titles:
- Law Enforcement Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education / Chemistry
Job Titles:
- Member of the Data Team
- Database / LMS Developer
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education / Communications
Job Titles:
- Financial Services Co - Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant / Admissions & Marketing
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education / Chemistry
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education / Psychology
Job Titles:
- Surgical Technology Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Business Partner Specialist
- Business Partner Specialist Ext. 263
Job Titles:
- Community Health Worker / Anatomy / Physiology
Job Titles:
- Member of the Natural Resources Management Team
Job Titles:
- Simulation Center Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Medical Assisting Adjunct Instructor
Job Titles:
- Executive Director
- General Education / Economics
Job Titles:
- Office Assistant
- Registrar
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean of Academics
Job Titles:
- Dental Assisting Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Library / Program Assistant / Maintenance and Custodial
Job Titles:
- State Advisor for SkillsUSA, DECA & FBLA
Job Titles:
- Aviation Maintenance Technology
Job Titles:
- Occupational Therapy Assistant / Adjunct / Physical Therapist Assistant
Job Titles:
- General Education / Psychology
Job Titles:
- Adjunct General Education / Sociology
Sarah joined the Lake Area Technical College team in July 2020 as our Finance Officer. She is a graduate of South Dakota State University where she earned a degree in Economics. Sarah brings experience from the banking industry where she was a Phone Banker and Bank Operations Analyst. She also spent the last 10 years in the manufacturing industry as a Cost Accounting Coordinator and Accountant. Sarah and her husband, Jim, live in Watertown and have three children: Laci, Mason, and Jackson. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending their son's sporting events, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Ex - Officio Member
- Dean of Student Services
Job Titles:
- Technology Inventory Control / Lab Instructor
Job Titles:
- Director of Support Operations
Lake Area Tech welcomed Stephanie to the team in January 2025 as the Food Service Director. She earned a Culinary Arts degree from North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND. Her experience includes working in the food service industry since the age of 16, where she always strived to do her best. Most recently, she has held roles as a kitchen manager and lead banquet chef. In her free time, Stephanie loves singing and doing karaoke, whether it's in her car or in a room full of people. She also loves spending time with friends watching TV, baking, or anything!
Job Titles:
- Heavy Equipment Operator Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Precision Machining Dept. Supervisor / Registrar
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant / Cosmetology
Job Titles:
- Project & Events Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Director of Corporate Education
Job Titles:
- Business Partner Specialist / UAS Instructor
Job Titles:
- Automotive Technology Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Ex - Officio Member
- President
- Lake Area Technical College As Its Sixth President
- Lake Area Technical College President
Tiffany Sanderson joined Lake Area Technical College as its sixth President in January 2023. Prior to her current role, she led K-12 education in South Dakota as the Secretary of Education. Tiffany's career has focused on education and workforce development in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Notably, she led South Dakota's technical college system as Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and helped develop important efforts like the Build Dakota Scholarship, the state's reduced tuition dual credit program, and funding for technical colleges and regional CTE facilities.
A South Dakota native, Tiffany grew up on a ranch and graduated from Lemmon High School. She earned her bachelor's degree in Agricultural Education from South Dakota State University and her master's degree in Administration: Human Resource Management from the University of South Dakota.
Tiffany's husband, Nathan, is the executive director of a statewide trade organization, and son, Carter, is the director of their free time. In addition to leading Lake Area Technical College, she serves on boards for the Watertown Development Company and South Dakota Ag & Rural Leadership (SDARL). She enjoys time with her family and friends, adventure in the outdoors, cheering on her hockey player, traveling, and supporting community efforts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Data Team
- Data Specialist
Tina began her career at Lake Area Technical College in 1992 in the admissions department and is currently a Data Specialist. She is a graduate of Lake Area Technical College and is originally from Brookings. Tina has two grown children, one granddaughter and one grandson. In her free time, she enjoys warm weather activities, reading, attend concerts and college athletic events.
Job Titles:
- Auto Body & Paint Technology Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Business Dept. Supervisor / Community Health Worker
Job Titles:
- Aviation Maintenance Technology Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- Ex - Officio Member
- Foundation Director
- Foundation Executive Director / General Education
- Foundation Executive Director Ext. 268
- Lake Area Technical College Foundation Executive Director
Travis began his duties as our Director of Maintenance in May 2022. He is a graduate of Hamlin High School and South Dakota State University where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Animal Science and Dairy Production. Following college, Travis worked for the University of Minnesota, but wanted to relocate closer to his four-generation homeplace located at Hazel, SD.
His experience includes working for six years at Arneson Electric, where he completed an Electrical Apprenticeship and also became a Journeyman Electrician, and for Crescent Electric Supply Company in Watertown for nearly 19 years, where he was the Warehouse Supervisor/Truck Driver, Inside Sales/Counter Sales person, then Branch Manager.
Travis is married to his high school sweetheart, Carrie, and they have three grown children: Nathan, Katie and Spencer. In his free time, he is the founder of the Oxford Township Chapter of the WDAA (Wood Duck Advancement Association) and currently serves as the president. He maintains wood duck nesting boxes in the local sloughs and wetlands. He started in 1998 with a wood duck box made by the Castlewood High School wood shop students and hung it in a tree and had no ducks for the first two years. Since then he has added more boxes every year and now tends over 20 boxes in his slough and neighboring wetlands. Travis and Carrie live on a small acreage near the tiny town of Grover, SD.
Job Titles:
- SDMTS Business Advisor / Student Support Services
Job Titles:
- Diesel Technology Co - Dept. Supervisor
Job Titles:
- SD FFA Executive Secretary